Mechanical movement for electric switches, &amp;c.



W. A. BEHRENS. MECHANICAL MOVEMENT FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES, 6w. APPUCATION FILED one. 1919. 1 ,368,992, Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC- 5| I919. I 1,868,992. Patented Feb. 15, 1921.v

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. .3 I a m r 3 WALTER A. BEHRENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO W. R. OSTRANDER & COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES, &c.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. BEHRnNs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn, N. Y., have invented new and useful Mechanical Movements for Electric Switches, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive mechanism by which rotary motion can be transformed into intermittent oscillating movement wlth a snap action, such for instance, as is required in electric switches of the key 01;)- erated type for sockets, etc.

The invention contemplates the employment of a shaft or spindle which may be rotated in either direction. The swinging or oscillating member, which in a switch would constitute the contact or switch arm, is connected to the shaft or spindle by a special mechanism, the main feature of which in its preferred form is what may be termed a wabbling piece connected. at one end to the shaft, connected at the other end to the swinging member by means which includes a spring and guided intermediate its ends by a slotted plate. I have shown three forms of mechanisms embodying the broad principles ofthe invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of mechanism embodying the improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the frame which supports the,rotating shaft and swinglng member, the view being taken from the side opposite to that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of the line 4- of Fig. 2 showing the wabbling member.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of another form. of mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the wabbling member of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional vlew on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another form.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the same showing the parts in one position.

'Fig. 11 is a side view showing the parts in another position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6, 1919. Serial No.

form of sheet metal,

member.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the connecting levers of the mechanism of the latter form.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the frame which supports the moving parts.

The oscillating or swinging member 15 is pivotally carried by a plate 16, and provided with a lug 17 which projects laterally itfld ig adapted to swing between the stops The frame which supports the moving parts of the mechanism is in its preferred having the side plate 16, base plate 19, and the two bearing plates 2020 for rotatably supporting the spindle or shaft'21.

The spindle 21 is suitably supported in the bearing plates 20-2O and carries two cam-like members 22 and 23 which rotate with the shaft or spindle, but are spaced apart from each other endwise sufliciently to allow for the plate 24 of the wabbling The latter has a finger 25' guided in a slot 26 in a plate 16. The end of the finger 25 is connected to the lug 17 by means of a helical spring 27 which is under tension and which tends to draw the lug and finger toward each other. The parts are so proportioned and arranged with respect to each other that the arm 15 is held in the position of Fig. 2 under tension of the spring 27 when the finger 25 is in the outer end of the slot 26. When the shaft 21 is rotated in either direction, the cams 22 and 23 twist the plate 24, so that the finger 25 is shifted to the rear end of the slot 26. This causes the spring 27 to pull on the opposite side of the axis of the arm 15. As soon as the pull is suflicient to overcome the ordinary friction and inertia of the arm 15, the arm snaps up until the h1g1? strikes the right hand stop 18. In the form shown, in order to snap the arm 15 up, it is necessary to turn the shaft 21 approximately 180 when turning it in a right hand direction, but only necessary to turn it approximately 90 when turned in a left hand direction, but successive rotation in either direction of 180 is necessary for repeated action.

When the mechanism is used for a switch, the parts are usually mounted on an insulating base such as '28, and provided with one or more contacts such as 29 and 30, depending on whether single break or double break 7 mechanism is desired.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the base plate 19 of the supporting frame carries two bearing members 20 and 20" for the shaft 21. In this case, the arm 15 is pivotally carried by the side plates 16, and adapted to swing between the stop shoulders 18 and 18. In this case, the end of the shaft'Ql is bent slightly to one side and the wabbling member has a sleeve 2a loosely fitting on this bent end of the shaft. The finger 25 of the wabbling member is guided in the slot 26 and connected by a spring 27 to the lug 17 of the arm 15 The action is very similar to that of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but

in this case, in order to snap the arm 15' from the position shown in Fig. 6, it is necessary to turn the key spindle or shaft about 180 in a right hand direction or about 1809in a left hand direction.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, the oscillating or swinging arm 15 is double-and therefore somewhat stiffer.

The base plate 19 of the frame carries sup-.

and 16 for the swinging member and bearing plates 20 and 20 for the spindle or shaft 21. The wabbling mechanism is the same as that shown in the first form, and has a finger 25 guiding in the slot 26*. In this case howeverthe finger 25 is connected to the arm 15 through the medium of a lever 31, link 82, and spring 27 The lever 31 has a notch 33 through. which the end of the wabbling finger 25 porting arms 16 projects. The link 32 has one end hooked into a notch or recess 34: in one arm of the lever 31, and has the other end hooked into a slot 35 in one of the arms of the swinging member 15. The spring 27 is centered at one end by the lug 36 in the side of the arm 15, and presses at its opposite end against one end of the link 82, so as to constantly assert a pressure on the link tending to pull against the lever 31. In the position shown inFig. 10, the arm 15 presses the position of the stop 18 (see Fig. 13). This form of mechanism requires substantially 180 revolution of the shaft in either direction to snap the contact arm 15. The link and spring mechanism of Figs. 9,

10, and 11 2. Mechanism of the character described,

comprising a pivoted arm and rotary shaft.

. a wabbling member connected to one end of said shaft and guided from the opposite end of said member, stops for said arm and a spring connecting said wabbling member and said arm. V

3. Mechanism of the character described, including a frame, a rotary shaft carried thereby, a pivoted arm carried by said frame, a wabbling member connected to one end of said shaft and guided at the other end by said frame and means of connection between said wabbling member and said arm including a spring for moving the arm with a snap action when the shaft is rotated.

4. Mechanismof the character described, including a plate having aguide, an arm pivoted to said plate, stops forlimiting the and having a finger engaging said guide and a spring connection between said. finger and a said arm.

5. Mechanism of the character described, comprising a pivoted arm, a rotary shaft, cams carried by said shaft, a wabbling plate between said cams, a guide for said plate and means of connection between said plate and said arm, including a spring for moving the arm with a snap action when the shaft is rotated.

6. Mechanism of the character described, comprising a frame having three bearing plates, a shaft supported by two'of said plates, an arm pivoted to the third plate, a wabbling member connected to said shaft and having a finger guided by said third plate and a spring connection between said finger and said arm. 

